By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Western Visayas (LTFRB-6) said over the weekend that they are expecting more than a thousand modernized public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will be in service in Bacolod City by next year.

In a radio interview, LTFRB-6 spokesperson Atty. Salvador Altura said around 1,099 modernized PUJs will be plying the streets of Bacolod before the end of April 2023.

The LTFRB has granted franchises to 1,099 units of modern PUJs for 24 routes approved under the Local Public Transport Route Plan.

Estimates show that up to 3,000 PUJs — both traditional and modernized — have been operating in the city.

So far, there are 164 units of modernized PUJs operating in Bacolod City, and an additional 274 units will begin operating prior to the end of November of this year.

Meanwhile, an estimated 438 modernized PUJs will begin operating by next month with pending loan approval from banks.

A total of 53 units for five routes have yet to be given to jeepney operators.

Among the routes include Paglaum-Libertad, Alangilan-Burgos, Bredco Port-North Bus Terminal, CEGASCO-Government Center, and Doña Juliana-Central Market.

Altura added that they are ready to request additional units if they notice any shortages in the number of available modernized PUJs./DGB, WDJ